Growth for spirits in the UK

Consumption of imported spirits between 2010 and 2014 grew by 9.5 %, rising from 12.7 million 9-litre cases to 13.9 million cases. Consumption of domestic spirits decreased in the same period by 5.6% to 17.5 million cases. Imports of spirits are forecast to climb 9.3% between 2015 and 2019. In the same five-year period consumption of domestically-produced spirits are forecast to increase by 0.9% to 17.6 million cases. The volume of all imported spirits consumed between 2010 and 2014 grew by +0.5% and between 2010 and 2019 will grow at a faster rate of +4.7%.

Vodka remains the favourite spirit of UK consumers with a market share of 30% in 2015 (9.6 million cases). Whisky from all categories was in second place with consumption of 7.9 million cases. Gin and Rum are forecast to be the fastest growing spirits categories between 2010 and 2019 with Gin showing a 25.9% growth rate and Rum up 23.7%.

Gin consumption in the UK rose from 2.7 million cases in 2010 to 3 million cases in 2014. The VINEXPO/IWSR study forecasts consumption will rise to 3.4 million cases by 2019. Rum consumption rose from 2.7 million cases in 2010 to 2.9 million in 2014 and is expected to reach 3.3 million cases in 2019.